Rotary engine



o fb Sheet l NVENTORS 7* W ATTORNEY ROTARY ENGINE F )ed mep* Q 191 NOV'9 Nov. 27, 1923. I ,475,509

C. L.. RAGOT ET AL ROTARY ENGINE Filed Sept. 9, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,bATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1923.

` y 1,475,509 PATENT oFFlcE.

CHARLS L. RAGOT, OF KINGSBRIDGE, NEW YORK, AND LOUIS F. RAGOT, FMILFORD, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNORS TO RAGOT MOTOR CORPORATION, ACORPORATION OF NEW YoEx.

Eo'rAlEY ENGINE.

Application tiled September 9, 1919. Serial No. 822,620.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES L. RAGOT, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Kingsbridge, New Yorkcity, in the county of New York and State of New York, and OUIs F.RAeo'r, also .a citizen of the United States, the county of Pike andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention isan improvement in r0- tary motors of that type in whichthe cylinders are arranged radially in respect to the axisof revolutionand the pistons have members engaging with a track encircling said axisand at varying distances therefrom. An en ine of that type is disclosedin our prior atent 1,302,709 issued May 6, 1919 and certain features ofour present in# vention are there broadly claimed.

s an important feature of our present construction we provide aninwardly facing track on each side of a single row of cylinders, eachinwardly facing trackl being opposed by a smaller track parallel theretoand in the same plane and spaced radially 'therefrom 'a distanceapproximatelypequal to the diameter of a roller so that the pistons arecontrolled in their inward as well as their outward movements. v

n connection piston and cylinder with co-acting key and keyway, therebypreventing rotation of the piston about its axis and also holding theroller axis at right angles to the planes of the tracks and insuringproper engagement of the rollers with the tracks. l y

The engine is provided with a distributor having two concentric tubes,one for the in4 gress, and the other for the egress of the motive Huid,and said tubes have ports valternately arranged in the same transverseplane so that the cylinders communicate first with one andthen with theother tube during the revolution.

As one feature of our invention 4wepro vide an improved throttleconstruction involving a member axially movable in respect tothestationary distributor so as to permit either of saidtubes to carry theincoming motive Huid and the other the exhaust, and

thus control the direction of rotation of the engine. (In theaccompanylng drawings to which and a resident of Milford, in-

Ldrical bosses, sleeves, or

therewith, we provide each' reference is to be had, we have illustratedone embodiment of our invention, although it will be understood that wedo not desire to be limited to the details of construction thereillustrated except in so far as they are defined specifically in theappended claims.

In these drawings Figure 1 `is a .transverse section at right angles tothe axisof rotation, the three equal radial segments of the figure beingtaken on three separate planes.

F lgure 2 is a central longitudinal section on al plane indicated bytheline 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are sections on the lines 3 3, 4-4, and 5)*5,lrespectively, of Figure 2,`and

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In. the specific form illustrated, there is provided a stator casingincluding end walls orplates 10 and 11 spaced apart by a peripheral wall12, the three walls being held rlgld in respect to each other in anysuitable manner, as for instance, by stay bolts 13. The end walls 10 and1l have central cylinextensions 14,-and coaxial with the motor. Withinthe casing there is mounted a rotor including a sleeve-or tubular bodyportion 16 coaxial .with the motor and presenting an annular rowofradially disposed cylinders 17 rigid therewith, and if desired, integraltherewith. The rotor is journalled within the casing in any'suitableform of bearings, as for inst-ance, a pair of ball bearings 18 and 19upon opposite sides of the row of cylinders and between the periphery ofthe tubular member or sleeve 16 of the rotor and the inner surface ofthe casing.v The one end of this sleeve or body portion of the rotor isillustrated as being formed integral with an extensionk 20- projectingthrough the boss 15 on the end plate 11 of thecasing and constituting ahollow shaft to nism to be driven by the rotor may be connected to thelatterl either internally or externally. This boss 15 is illustrated asbeing provided with a packing gland 21 encircling which the mechathehollow shaft 20 so as to make the interiolr1 of the casing substantiallyair and oil tig t.

As` important features of our improved motor, each cylinder is providedwith a pair of longitudinally extending slots 22 roller is but slightlyless along opposite sides facing in the direction of the axis of themotor and within each cylinder is a piston 23 having a spilldle 24parallel to the axis of the motor and extending through these slots/Each of the end walls of the casing presents two parallel tracks 25 and26 in the same plane and spaced a uniform distance apart. These tracksare at varyin distances from the axis of the rotor anY are preferablyelliptical so as to provide two outstrokes and two instrok'es of eachpiston during a single revolution of the rotor. Each spindle 24e has aroller 27 upon each end thereof and located between the correspondingpair of ellipitical tracks. The diameter of each than the distancebetween the two tracks sothat as the rotor turns, the rollers willengage only one track of each pair at one time, depending on whether'theI=piston is forced outwardly as during the power stroke or the piston iscaused to move outwardly by rotating the motor by applying some powerfrom the outside. By this construction the pistons are positively guidedand controlled to effeet their outward and inward movements. As the mainpressure of the rollers is against the outer tracks 25 during the powerstroke and the inner tracks 26 serve primarily to keep the pistons fromfalling inwardly and thus rattling or jarring when the rotor is turningwithout motive fluid, we lind it desirable to make the outer tracks ofharder material. The main casing may be. made of comparatively lightmaterial and may have the tracks 26 formed directly on the innersurfaces of the end walls 10 and 11 but the outer tracks 25 arepreferably formed on plates 28 of hardened steel or other suitable wearresisting material. These plates are shown as being clamped in pos1t1onby the same bolts 13 which hold together the three main sections of thecasing.

To prevent rotation of the pistons within i their cylinders and tothereby hold the axes of the spindles at right angles to the planes ofthe tracks, the pistons/and cylinders are rovided with coacting keys andkeyways.

ach cylinder is shown as having a pair of oppositely disposed slots 29extending lengthwise thereof upon opposite sides and spaced from theslots 22, althoughone such key and slot may be employed with a.

similar result. rlhese `slots 29 are preferably at the outer ends of thecylinders and beyond the slots 22 which latter are intermediate of theends of the cylinders. Each piston is shown to be of such length thatvthe slots 22 are always completely covered, the outer ends of thepistons projecting be- Ayond the outer ends of the slots 22 but this 1snot essential as long as the inner ends of the lSlots 22 me notuneoveredby the4 piston ineaaeoa head which would provide an escape of motivefluid. Each piston at its outer end presents a pair of outwardlyextending pron jections engaging in the slots 29. These are shown asformed of a transverse key 3() secured in a transverse groove in theouter end of the cylinder and of such length as to extend into the`slots 29. Thus the engagement of this key with the slots 29 whichconstitute keyways, prevents any rotation of the cylinder about its axisand as these keys and keyways are in line with the side thrust of thepiston against the cylinder wall, they take up none of the said thrustleaving a 'free movement of the piston to aline itself within thecylinder bore.

rlihe boss or sleeve 1li of the casing has a transverse outer end wall31 carrying a distributor projecting coaxially of the motor and spacedfrom the peripheral wall of the sleeve 1a and into the main sleeve orbody 16 of the rotor. vlhis distributor is illustrated as including twoconcentric tubes 32 and 33 rigid in respect to each other and coaxialbut they may be eccentric with one another without impairing theirperformance. rll`he body or sleeve 16 of the rotor has an annular seriesof radial orts 34, one connecting with the inner en of each cylinder. lnthe transverse plane of these cylinder ports 3d the outer tube 32 isprovided with a pair of oppositely disposed ports 35 each of which mayregister with each port 34 during the revolution of the rotor. rlheinner tube 33 has a transversely extending branch passage 36 terminating1n a pair of ports 37 in the same plane with the ports 35 and spacedmidway between the latter. Thus during the rotation of the rotor, eachcylinder port registers first with a 'port 35 and then with a port 37and communicates with the interior of the tubes 32 and 33 alternatelyand twice during each rotation.

'llhe boss or sleeve 14 of the casing has a pair of passages orchambers,l 38 and 39 extending along the inner surface circumferentiallythereof, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and It. The assage 38communicates with a motive fluld passage 40, which for purposes ofdescription, may be considered as the inlet passage, while the passage39 communicates with a similar motive fluid assage 41, which for presentpurposes may e designated as the exhaust passage. The inner tube 33 ofthe distributor has a pair of branch passages 42 and 43 in the sametransverse planes with the passages 38 and 39 and extending through theouter wall of the outer tube 32 without communicating with the interiorof said outer tube.` rlhe outer tube is illustrated asA having a pairofports M and ll'diametrically opposite to the branch passages 42 andI43 and also in the same transverse planes as the Casin passages 38 and39. lit will lie understoo however, that the location of branch sages 42and 43 may be at any position around the circumference of the saiddistributor, the same being true of the ports 44 and 45 and that theyare shown to be all inthe same longitudinal plane with ports 37 4 forconvenience in illustration. Between the outer surface of thedistributor and the inner surface of the casing part 14,)there isprovided a longitudinally slidable sleeve 46 constituting a throttle.This has a single port 47 `which may register with either the port 44 orthe port 45 and' a pair of ports 48 and 49 for registry with the branchpassages 42 and 43 of the inner tube of the distributor. These threeports in the throttle are so positioned that when the throttle is movedendwise toward the left from the position shown in Figure 2, the port 47will register with the port 44 and connect the interior of the outertube of the distributor with the casing passage 38. At the same time theport 49.w1ll register with the branch passage 43 of the inner tube andconnect the latter with the casing passage 39. Assuming that the motivefluid be admitted through the inlet it will flow along the casingpassage 38 and through the ports 47 and 44 to the outer tube and fromthe latter through the ports 35 to the engine cylinder ports 34. At thesame time the exhaust from other engine cylinders may flow through ports37, inner tube 33, and branch passage 43 and port 49 to the casingpassage 39 and thus to the exhaust, and there will result a rotation ofthe rotor in one direction. If the throttle be moved to the oppositelimiting position, namely, toward the right from the position shown inFigure 2, the ports and 47 will register and the port 48 will registerwith the inner tube passage 42. Thus the motive fluid entering the inlet40 will flow direct to the inner tube and out through the ports 37 tothe engine cylinders while the exhaust will flow through the ports 35 tothe 'outer tube and thence through 45 and 47 to the outlet 41 and arotation in the opposite direction will result. The same' result will beobtained if the position of the throttle sleeve ports is reversed, thatis, if the port 47 is located to register with branch passages 42, 'and43, and ports 48 and 49 vof the throttle are located to register withports-44 and45 of the outer tube 32. By holding the throttle in theintermediate position as shown in Figure 2, all the`ports will be closedand the engine will remain at rest. It will of course be evident thatthe designation 'of the part 40 as the inlet and the part 41 as theexhaust is purely; arbitrary as either part may serve either purpose.Anyrlsuitable means may be employed for operating this throttle sleeve46 and limiting its mOtiOn. As s hown, the casing exi pastension 14 isprovided with'a longitudinal slot 50 through which extends a handle 51rigid with the throttle sleeve. The length and position of this slot maybe such that with the handle at one end, rotation in one direction willbe secured and when at the other end, rotation in the opposite directionwill result. This slot is preferably on the side of the casing oppositeto the passages 38 and 39 as indlcated particularly in Figures 3 and 4.

The engine above. described may be employed in connection with variousdifferent motive iuids, as for instance, steam, comi pressed air, orwater, and the rotor may be connected in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by the hollow shaft 20 toy any part which it is desired todrive. It will also be evident that by applying power to the shaft 20,the rotor may be mechanically operated and the mechanism may be used asa pump, compressor, or the like. The same general principles ofconstruction may be applied toa two-cycle internal -combustion engine byproper arrangement of ports, cooling means, ignitors, and otherappurtenances of such an engine. The elliptical tracks provide for twoinstrokes and two outstrokes per revolution but it will be evident thattracks of other forms might provide a greater or less number ofreciprocations per revolution with a corresponding. change in the numberand arrangement of the ports 35 and 37. By making the tracks alongsideof the cylinders and projecting inwardly beyond the outer ends of thecylinders and pistons. the latter deliver their power Afrom pointsintermediate of their ends and the pistons are adequately and properlyguided while the casing is of the minimum diameter which, as will beseen, is but slightly greater than the outside diameter of the rotor.

Having thus'described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, a rotor -havin'g aplurality of cylinders bodily movable about the axis of rotation of therotor, and an annular row of cylinder ports, oneport for each cylinder,a stationary distributer including a pair of tubes, each provided with aplurality of ports arranged in th-e same circumferential pathv with thecylinder ports, each alternate one of said second mentioned. portscommunicating with one tube and the remaining ones communicating withthe other tube stationary motive fluid supply and exhaust conduits, andan axially movable sleeve having ports for connecting either of saidpassages with either of said tubes.

2. In combination, a casing, a rotor mounted therein and having a row ofradially disposed cylinders and an annular row of cylinder ports, oneport for each cylinder,

.and a distributor rigidly secured to said casing including an innertube and an outer tu e, each provided with a plurality of ports arrangedin the same circumferential path with the cylinder ports, each alternateport communicating with the inner tube and the remaining portscommunicating with the.

outer tube, and means for controlling the delivery of motive fluidthrough either of said tubes, and the exhaust through the other.

3. In combination, a casing, a rotor mounted therein and having a row ofradially disposed cylinders and an annular row of cylinder ports, oneport for each cylinder,

and a distributor rigidly secured to said casin including an inner tubeand an outer tube, each provided with a plurality of ports arranged inthe same circumferential path with the cylinder ports, each alternateport communicating with the inner tube and the remaining portscommunicating with the outer tube, and an axially movable throttlesleeve for connecting either of said tubes to the source of motivefluid, and the other tube to the exhaust. .v n 4. In combination, acasing havlng an axially extending sleeve at one end thereof, a

rotor within said casing and having a tubular body portion, adistributor rigid with said sleeve and spaced from the wall thereof andprojectinig into said rotor body portion and having a pair oflongitudinally extending passages, said casing sleeve having` terence aninlet and an outlet, and said rotor body portion having a row ofcylinder ports and a tubular throttle member encircling said distributorwithin said casing sleeve and axiallymovable for controlling the flow ofHuid from said inlet to either of said passages and` the escape ofexhaust from the other.

5. lln combination, a rotor having a plurality of radially extendingcylinders havf' in through the second mentioned slots, and

ro ers mounted on opposite ends of vsaid spindle, and a stator having aninwardly and an outwardly facing track on each side.

of said row of c linders and engaging with said rollers to e ect theradial movement of the cylinders durin rotation of the rotor.

Signed at New ork, in the count o New York and State of New York, this29 day of August A. D. 1919.

CHAS. L. RAGOT. LUlS lB.. RAGO'I

